You’d be excused for assuming that the ‘D’ in TDI stood for diesel, but that isn’t the case.
Turbocharged Direct Injection is referred to as TDI. When fuel is injected directly into a car’s cylinder as opposed to passing through an intake manifold, the process is known as direct injection.
In comparison to older engine types, direct injection diesel engines are typically more efficient and emit less soot.
Direct injection technology is frequently used in petrol engines as well, despite Volkswagen solely using TDI for its diesel engines. Not the branding, though.
In This Article...
TDI Audi: What does that mean?
If you’re interested in new or used diesel Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT, Skoda, Porsche, or Bentley cars, you’ll notice those three letters because they are utilized on all contemporary Volkswagen Group diesel engines.
Although you might assume the “D” in TDI stands for “diesel,” it actually stands for “Turbocharged Direct Injection.” In order to increase power, turbocharging reduces the size of the engine, which helps save gasoline. The smaller engine also implies less weight, which improves efficiency, acceleration, and handling, as well as more room for interior occupants and crash protection. The fuel combustion cycle is improved through direct injection, which results in more torque and fewer exhaust pollutants.
Which Audis have TDIs?
Audi unveiled a brand-new engine in 1989 at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. This innovative engine, a 2.5 liter five cylinder direct injection turbocharged diesel engine with fully electronic engine management, was the first of its kind and the first in a long line of ‘TDI’ engines. Due in part to a distributor-type fuel injection pump that could generate a maximum pressure of 13,053 PSI (900 bar), which aided in more effective burning of the diesel fuel, it initially produced 120 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque when it was installed in the Audi 100. The output of the A6 finally increased to 140 horsepower after additional work on the injection pump and exhaust gas recirculation.
The Audi 80 and later the Audi 100 were the first vehicles to use the 1.9 liter (and first four cylinder) TDI engine. This engine produced 90 horsepower and 134 lb-ft of torque at a fuel injection pressure of up to 13,779 PSI (950 bar). With the addition of a variable turbine geometry (VTG) turbocharger in 1995, the engine’s power increased to 110 horsepower and 166 lb-ft of torque. The A3, A4, and A6 all utilized this updated engine. Pump-nozzle fuel injection and water-cooled exhaust gas recirculation were added to the 1.9 TDI in 1999. Power and torque were up to 115 hp and 210 lb-ft, while fuel injection pressure reached 29,733 PSI (2,050 bar). Later, variants with 100 horsepower and 130 horsepower would also be offered.
Using a new double overhead camshaft engine head with four valves per cylinder, the 1.9 liter TDI was increased to two liters in 2003. The output was 236 lb-ft of torque and 140 horsepower. A new two-liter TDI model with common rail fuel injection and piezo injectors was released in 2007. Although the maximum fuel injection pressure decreased to 26,107 PSI (1,800 bar), output increased to 143 horsepower (torque remained the same at 236 lb-ft), and the redline was lifted to 5,000 RPM. A variant of this engine was installed in some Audi TTS models in 2008; it produced 170 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, reached its redline at 5,400 RPM, and accelerated the sports vehicle to 62 mph in just 7.5 seconds.
The two-liter TDI was updated in 2009 with a new model that produced 136 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque while also enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing pollution. A tweaked version of the two liter was made available in several Audi vehicles starting in 2012. The engine now produces 150 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque after the fuel injection pressure was raised once more to 29,008 PSI (2000 bar).
A new 2.5 liter TDI was introduced by Audi in 1997 and was intended to be used in the A4, A6, allroad, and A8. This time, the 2.5 liter engine had a V6 and a VTG turbocharger with four valves per cylinder. The engine initially produced 150 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque before increasing to 180 horsepower when the direct injection was operating at 21,756 psi (1,500 bar).
With the 3.0 TDI, a new generation of V-engines was introduced in 2004. These engines all had a 90 degree bank angle, 90 mm cylinder spacing, and a chain drive on the back of the engine. This V6 engine had a vermicular graphite cast-iron block, piezo inline injectors, and a maximum injection pressure of 23,206 psi (1,600 bar). At introduction, there were three models that produced 204, 224, and 233 horsepower, respectively. The 3.0 TDI was quickly followed by the 2.7 TDI in the A4, A5, and A6, which had a slightly shorter stroke and a smaller displacement. 180 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque were produced at first, then later, 190 horsepower.
The 3.0 TDI clean diesel with an extremely low emission technology was introduced in 2008. This engine met all US emission regulations and the Euro 6 restrictions (which wouldn’t take effect for several more years). New combustion chamber sensors were added, and the exhaust gas recirculation system and Common Rail fuel injection (now up to 29,008 PSI or 2,000 bar) were rebuilt. AdBlue was injected into a DeNox catalytic converter to reduce the majority of nitrogen oxides. The engine produced 406 lb-ft of torque and 240 horsepower despite being cleaner than before.
A new crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, and cylinder heads were added to the 3.0 TDI in 2010 to save weight (the entire engine was 55 lbs lighter than the previous model), lower friction, and boost efficiency. The maximum fuel injection pressure decreased to 26,107 psi (1,800 bar), however the maximum power and torque stayed at 250 horsepower and 406 lb-ft, respectively.
The 3.0 TDI Biturbo, which has two inline turbochargers, was introduced in 2011. The smaller variable turbine geometry turbo performs the most of the work at lower RPMs. Above around 2,500 RPM, the larger turbo begins to perform the majority of the work, and at approximately 3,500 to 4,000 RPM, the smaller turbo is totally bypassed. With the aid of two turbochargers and a fuel pressure increase to 29,008 PSI (2,000 bar), this engine is capable of producing 313 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque.
The A7 Sportback debuted the newest V6 TDI in 2014. Another 3.0 TDI, this one features modifications like new cylinder heads, a VTG turbocharger, and an oil pump. Depending on the variant, power is 218 horsepower and 295 lb-ft or 272 horsepower and 428 lb-ft due to the significant reduction in internal friction.
With a 3.3-liter displacement, four overhead camshafts, 32 valves, and two variable turbine geometry turbochargers, Audi unveiled their first V8 TDI in 1999. Available in the A8, this engine was Audi’s first to utilise common rail injection, producing 225 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque at pressures of up to 19,580 PSI or 1,350 bar. A four-liter TDI with an updated common-rail fuel injection system that included new seven-hole nozzles and increased the maximum pressure to 23,206 PSI was introduced in 2003. (1600 bar). Up to 275 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque were available.
The four liter engine was replaced in 2005 with a 4.2 liter TDI. Output would later rise to 340 horsepower in the Q7 and 385 horsepower in the A8, from its initial 326 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. Along with being quite light, the V8 only weighed about 550 lbs. With the addition of piezo injectors, the most recent 4.2 TDI model’s maximum fuel injection pressure was increased to 29,008 PSI (2,000 bar) in 2014. The engine produces 385 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque with its two VTG turbochargers operating at up to 24.7 pounds of boost (1.7 bar).
The 2008 Q7 had Audi’s most potent TDI engine to date. The flawlessly balanced V12, which had a six-liter displacement and was related to the engine in Audi’s R10 TDI race vehicle, produced an astounding 500 horsepower and an even more astounding 738 lb-ft of torque, again in part because of the maximum 29,008 PSI (2,000 bar) direct injection pressure. The 5500+ weight SUV was able to reach 62 mph in about 5.5 seconds using all of its power.
Additionally, Audi has produced a number of other (mainly smaller) TDIs, including various 1.2, 1.4, and 1.6 liter engines, although the majority of these have never been offered in North America. Audi has demonstrated that the TDI engine is quite capable through their results at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, beginning with the R10 TDI in 2006 and later with the R15 TDI and R18 TDI. Many of the TDIs share comparable technology (after already proving that their gasoline engines were no slouches either with their R8 LMP race cars of the early 2000s).
Is the TDI an effective motor?
Volkswagen has made numerous excellent diesel engines throughout the years, but the “ALH engine,” which was utilized from 1998 to 2006, is considered to be one of the best. With 1.9 liters of displacement over 4 cylinders, direct injection, and turbocharging, these engines were solely utilized in automobiles.
These engines became well-known not only for their exceptional dependability but also for the incredible fuel economy they were capable of. The Pumpe Dse engines, which employed camshaft-driven fuel injectors and were less dependable, began to replace the ALH engine about 2005. The common rail fuel system was added to the TDI engine later in 2008, and it is these newer engines that were the focus of the Volkswagen emissions-cheating issue.
With 500,000 kilometers on the clock, it’s not unusual to see diesel-powered Volkswagens still on the road. With between 300,000 and 500,000 kilometers on them, we disassembled and examined a number of 1.9L ALH engines. We were astonished by how little wear or other damage we discovered within. The fact that some of these engines were not kept up very well speaks to their toughness. The 2004 Jetta’s undercarriage housed an ALH TDI engine with 720,000 kilometers on it, which is the greatest mileage ALH TDI engine we’ve ever seen in our facility.
Is TDI short for Turbo?
The initial letter of the TDI designation, which stands for “Turbocharged,” denotes that the car’s engine has been installed with a turbocharger. The intake air is compressed by a turbocharger, which is a compressor powered by the exhaust gases of the engine. As a result, more fuel may be mixed with more air in the combustion chambers, producing higher power for a given amount of fuel.
Do you prefer TDI or TSI?
Technically speaking, TDI stands for turbocharged direct injection and TSI is for turbocharged stratified injection. The D in TDI stands for the diesel engine, so keep that in mind when you’re having trouble remembering which one is which.
Engine Specs TDI vs TSI Volkswagen
Diesel and gasoline engines differ in a number of ways when it comes to engine specifications, but we’ll take the 2016 Volkswagen Golf as an example. The 2016 Golf TSI variant is more reasonably priced than the TDI and comes with a little bit more horsepower. On the other side, the 2016 Golf TDI has higher torque. The 2016 Golf TSI is the ideal car for young families and adventurous drivers thanks to its increased horsepower and conventional gasoline engine.
Which is superior, TDI or TFSI?
A 2.0ltr Q5 S Line Plus in Mythos Black with a black pack and titanium wheels, as well as a few additional extras to make life with it a little nicer, is pretty much what we’ve decided to go with. Our Discovery 3 has been with us for seven years, and we typically keep our cars for at least five years. We would rather buy a car outright than finance it through a PCP or lease.
Which should I choose: the tdi or the tfsi? We travel 6k miles year on average, about 30% of which is within the city and the rest is spent on lengthy trips with the kids and the annual family vacation. Normally, getting a diesel engine would cost more, but in this case, the price was the same for both. The tdi’s obvious advantage is better economy, although Audi’s official statistics show that it is slower than the tfsi. We wouldn’t travel far enough to benefit from diesel, so if the tfsi were less expensive to purchase, it would be a no-brainer.
Beyond the obvious advantages of performance over economy, what are the disadvantages of each engine?
Audi stopped producing TDI when?
A stop-sale letter was given to dealers on Tuesday and states that five of Audi’s six diesel models are no longer available for sale.
According to the notification Automotive News received, sales of the 20132015 Q7, 20142016 A6, A7, A8, A8L, and Q5 Audi TDI cars are prohibited. An official statement has not yet been published by the company. The vehicles go beyond the 2016 A6, A7, A8, A8L, and Q5, which were the only ones mentioned in a second EPA violation notice to the Volkswagen Group on Monday. The warning did not mention the new 20152016 A3 TDI or any A3 TDI automobiles from the 20092013 generation. Tuesday also saw the suspension of the 20142016 Porsche Cayenne Diesel and the start of a second inquiry by Volkswagen into the fuel economy of 800,000 additional vehicles.
For the 2014 model year, Audi unveiled a selection of automobiles powered by TDI engines and staged this promotional photo in Washington, D.C.
Is the Audi diesel good?
Even on the racetrack, the Audi TDI is superior. Additionally, it produces significantly more torque on the crankshaft than any gasoline engine, over 800 lb-ft (more than 1.100 Nm). However, the diesel readily defeats its rivals mostly due to its efficiency.
Reliability of Audi TDI engines
In conclusion, there are conflicting opinions about how reliable these engines are. However, the earlier versions had more issues. We would conclude that the older versions have been sufficiently adjusted to be trustworthy engines. Some of them have a 200,000-mile endurance limit, but they most certainly won’t live much longer. With these engines, regular maintenance is essential because, if neglected, the majority of them begin to have issues after 100,000 miles.
About Trey
I have a passion for Volkswagen and Audi vehicles and spend my weekends working on them. I also appreciate assisting others by offering insightful and correct knowledge in the field of automobiles. I’ve worked in the automotive sector for at least ten years, and I make it a point to never stop learning new things. I hope that my posts reflect this passion and help the readers.